aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
in addition
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading "It's awfully difficult to realise it," said Myra.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
BlairnounUS /bler/
British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
celebrateverbUS /ˈseləbreɪt/
behave as expected during of holidays or rites
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
croquetverbUS /kroʊˈkeɪ/
drive away by hitting with one's ball
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
croquet-players
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
DahlianounUS /ˈdæljə/
any of several plants of or developed from the species Dahlia pinnata having tuberous roots and showy rayed variously colored flower heads; native to the mountains of Mexico and Central America and Colombia
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "It's awfully difficult to realise it," said Myra.
discussverbUS /dɪˈskʌs/
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
fifty-sixadjective
being six more than fifty
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
Fortescue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
the act of departing
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
hoopsnounUS /huːps/
a game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal hoop
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It's awfully difficult to realise it," said Myra.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's awfully difficult to realise it," said Myra.
joyfuladjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/
full of or producing joy
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
Myra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's awfully difficult to realise it," said Myra.
negotiateverbUS /nəˈɡoʊʃieɪt/
discuss the terms of an arrangement
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
participate in games or sport
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
realiseverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading "It's awfully difficult to realise it," said Myra.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
express a supposition
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading IN AND OUT "Well," said Thomas, "how are we going to celebrate the joyful event?"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were sitting on the lawn, watching Blair and Miss Fortescue play croquet.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
which person or people
From this reading Our match did not begin for another hour, happily for the lovers; happily also for the croquet-players, who had about fifty-six more hoops, posts, flags and what not to negotiate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Archie and Dahlia were not with us; they had (I suppose) private matters to discuss.
